Willie Memegos rose from labourer to Chapleau public works superintendent as well as being winner of winter carnival backpack contests and tour guide for Bill Davis

Bill Davis (hands in pocket), Michael, William Memegos (white hat) and reporters

When William "Willie" Memegos and his brothers started as employees of the Township of Chapleau about 1949, they were working as labourers on the installation of the new sewage system. The pay was twenty-five cents an hour and in those days there were no coffee breaks.

Years later, after Willie became the public works superintendent, he would share stories of those days with me always paying tribute to J.M. "Jack" Shoup, a member of council and public works committee chair, who would bring the work crews jugs of water on a hot summer day.

Willie's brothers Baptiste and Adam also worked for the municipality for years, and in the view of many, Baptiste was the best grader operator there ever was. I can still hear the sound of the grader moving snow, clearing the roads in the middle of the night during the winter months. He could also perform his magic with a backhoe.

 Someone once told me that Baptiste was able to "manoeuvre this machinery with the precision of a diamond cutter" and it sure was true

When the Memegos family first arrived in the Chapleau area early in the 20th Century, they lived along the Nebskwashi River, an area where I loved to walk, and I have always felt privileged that Willie had once told me, "You can walk on my land any time."

I used to spend countless hours walking in the bush which some may call the forest, or the woods, but to me it will always simply be the bush. I had started going there  as a young boy, with my grandfather, George Hunt when he would take me along blueberry picking. It continued as an adult. The Memegos family always watched out for my grandfather who was still picking blueberries into his seventies.

For my walks I would leave from our home on Grey Street, go over the "Indian Bridge" across the "back river" (Nebskwashi River) and head off to Pellow's Field  or Corston's Farm, or just walk in the bush.

Rene Serre, Willie Memegos

Shortly after I became reeve of Chapleau, we needed a new township public works superintendent and were not satisfied with the applications we had received. Councillors Ernie Gilbert and Dr. G.E. Young suggested to me that we ask Willie if he would like the job.

Ernie was the legendary public works committee chair of his day on council, who would never hesitate to arouse me on a cold winter's night to accompany him to a home where the water had frozen, and the public works crew was on hand at maybe 50 below F. Willie was always on the scene.

Willie had not applied but when we asked if he would like it with the option that he could return to the position he had as foreman at any time, he accepted the position. And Willie never returned to his old job!

Willie would come to chat with me almost every day that I was at the Town Hall/Civic Centre, and gave me the benefit of his wisdom and guidance on all manner and sorts of things. He was a man of few words but he was always right on.

He would also lobby in his own way for projects like doing sidewalks and having a township crew undertake the installation of water and sewer, and a new road to the new Chapleau General Hospital.

Willie convinced me and council agreed to let the township public works department assume responsibility. The plan had been to contract it out.

One day Willie came into my office and said I had to stop construction according to the engineer's drawings because they were wrong. A change must be made. This led to a flurry of phone calls between us and the engineer's office, and it turned out that Willie was right and the engineer wrong! When I asked him how he knew, he replied simply, "I have a good eye."

Willie and his brothers worked on the original installation of the sewer system in Chapleau  and over the years had become experts from practical experience.

When Ontario Premier Bill Davis visited Chapleau in 1975, Willie conducted the tour which included the premier, members of council and hospital board as well as many members of the provincial news media. The media was really along because Mr. Davis had announced a provincial election that day in Timmins, and then flew to Chapleau for a visit. We did get some coverage in the Toronto newspapers as a result.

Willie and his family members also loved sports and for years totally dominated canoe races and other water sports. Willie also would win the backpacking contests at the winter carnival where participants started with a large canvas pack and walked a set distance where more weight was added. He long outwalked all other participants with weights the most could never lift let alone endure.

They also enjoyed broomball and hockey and one time played on a team called Robin's Hoods. Willie was also an outstanding fastball pitcher.

Although I had walked on the Memegos family land, I had never asked permission to do so. So one day when Willie and I were out on a tour of the municipality I asked him and he gave permission.

On  walks when I would reach the crook in the road entering the Memegos family land I would  think of Robert Frost's poem 'The Road Not Taken' and reflect on  the poet's words that "two roads diverged in a single wood" and think that so often we take  the road less travelled by, and that makes all the difference in our lives.

The contribution of Willie Memegos and his brothers to Chapleau,  made all the difference in the lives of citizens in all kinds of weather. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Chapleau hockey moments from the McEwen Cup to Junior 'B" title plus "Heart of My Heart" by The Four Aces

"Heart of my Heart, when friends were dearer then, too bad we had to part.." lines from one of the top songs of 1953 by The Four Aces may well be the theme song for Chapleau hockey teams throughout the community's history. The Bantam hockey team of the day sure sang it over and over again on a road trip to Sudbury in their own passenger car.

Shown here in the Sudbury Arena are coach Garth 'Tee' Chambers, arguably one the best players in Chapleau's history with Harry 'Butch' Pellow and Aldee Martel.

The following is a glimpse of hockey in Chapleau from 1910 to 1967. Chapleau had a hockey team in 1893, likely earlier, but we know that the team made a trip on the Canadian Pacific Railway to play Sudbury that year. I hope you will look at family connections in hockey over the years and depending on your age be able to  relate to some of the teams, players and your relatives.

In 1966-67 hockey season their first year of competition, the Junior 'B' Huskies won the International Junior 'B' League and Northern Ontario Hockey Association championships coached by Lorne Riley and Keith 'Buddy' Swanson.  Back from l: Andre Rioux, Lorne Riley, Merrick Goldstein, John Babin, Ray Larcher, Mickey Jurynec, Greg Vaughan, Robert Morin, Reg Bouillon, Gerry Boucher, Jamie Broomhead; Front: Corky Bucci, Jean- Claude Cyr, George Swanson, Richard Morin, John Loyst, John Laframboise, Ted Swanson, Bud Swanson and missing Bruce Pellow, Bruce Fortin. Thanks Buddy!!!

High school hockey was very popular in Chapleau and teams played in the town league and against outside competition. Here is the 1965 team. Back from left: Peter Grey, John Babin, Jim Lapp, Richard Morin, Bruce Pellow, Jim St. Amand, David Stevens, Mike Tangie, J. Parker (coach), Brian Corston, Darryl Downey, Keith Corston, Merrick Goldstein (and thanks to Merrick for his phone call providing names and all on facebook who also contributed). Kneeling: Larry Joyce, Albert Bignucolo, David Futhey, Reg Bouillon, Gerry Boucher, Ted Swanson. Note that several played for the Jr. 'B' Huskies the next year. Ten years later Jim St. Amand was a member of the Int. 'A' Huskies and Ted Swanson never missed a game in that team's four year history in the Northland Intermediate Hockey League. Mike Tangie went on to coach in Chapleau.

The CHS team of 1956 is below.A highlight of the year for the Chapleau High School team of 1956 was a trip to Terrace Bay. Back row from left: David McMillan, Doug Sleivert, Stan Barty,Thane Crozier, Clarence Fiaschetti (teacher and coach), George Lemon (principal) Second row: Doug Espaniel, Roger Mizuguchi, Bill Cachagee . Front are Jim Hong, Bert Lemon, Harry Pellow, Ken Schroeder, Robbie Pellow (Mascot) Marc Boulard, Harry Hong, Jim Machan, Ron Morris. Note that Clarence was playing on the 1949 Junior team, and was also first CHS student to return as teacher.

Here are the 1953-54 Chapleau Bantam champions who won the Algoma Dairy Trophy.. Back row from left: Basil Collings (coach), Michael McMullen, Mrs. Broomhead, David McMillan, Richard Pilon, Tim Goodwin. Front are Charlie White, Ken Schroeder and Harry 'Boo' Hong.

 Ian Macdonald has provided photo of the losing Bantam team -- 5-4 in a thrilling overtime with Mike McMullen finally notching the winner. Back row from left Tee Chambers, Jim Machan, Jim Evans, Jack Poynter, Ian Macdonald, Bill McFarlane Front: Wayne Faught, Bill McLeod, Roger Mizuguchi, Aldee Martel

The 1949 Trappers were an Intermediate team sponsored by Mrs. A.W. Moore with many players who had returned home after serving in Canada's armed forces in World War II.

Also, in !949, Chapleau iced a Junior team. I recall going to watch the Juniors play and they were good. Chapleau had an awesome town league at that time. Back row are from left Orville Robinson, Doug Swanson, Lorne Riley, Greg Lucas, Tee Chambers, Fred Goheen, Keith Strapp, Toddy Collinson, Ernest 'Sonny' Bignucolo, D.O. Payette (manager), Pat Serre, Ross Hamlin, George Payette. Front from left, Yen Hong, Bob Evans, Reggie Sonego, Ross Thornton (coach), Tom Jardine, Angelo Mione, Johnny Morin, Mike Mione, Clarence Fiaschetti.

Below, coached by John McClellan, who for 30 years defined Chapleau High School as teacher and principal are the  Juvenile Flyers from the 1930s. This was my father's generation of hockey players in Chapleau, born between 1913 and 1916. My father, Jim Morris is second from left.

In 1919, Bob Turner, a legendary goaltender over the years was playing for a Chapleau team. In back are Clothier (could be different spelling and first name not given), Fred Kelland, Alex McAulay, Frank Boucher, Buster McAdam, Bob Turner, Amon Saylors, Ken Sheppard.  These were the days of seven man hockey and no subs.

Here is a local team from 1910, and if you look closely you can see each photo is numbered: 1, Robert McEwen; 2, Richard Brownlee; 3, Gordon Sheppard; 4, Adelard Lafrance; 5, George Collinson; 6, Tommy Thompson; 7, Tom Godfrey; 8, Ovide Payette; 9. Wilfred Wolfe and 10, Ernest Cressey.

Robert McEwen donated the McEwen Cup, emblematic of hockey supremacy in Chapleau. Here is the first winning team in 1911. Photos are numbered: 1, Peter Moran; 2, Gordon Sheppard; 3, Simon Kruger; 4, Harry Morris (my grandfather); 5, Omer Lahay; 6, Oscar Tremblay; 7, Ken McFadden ;8, Charles Mulligan (my great uncle); 9, Herb Merrick and 10, Robert McEwen.

My thanks to www.chapleau.com and Hugh Kuttner for the wonderful collection of Chapleau photos.

I welcome comments, stories and photos from all on Chapleau hockey. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Now for your added pleasure enjoy Heart of My Heart by The Four Aces, dedicated to all who were in any way involved in hockey in Chapleau, especially the Bantams on the Sudbury trips in the Fifties..

Chapleau honours popular citizens Mrs. A.W. Moore as Queen Mother and Layton Goodwin as King at 11th winter carnival in 1962

Mrs 'Hockey' Moore (courtesy Chapleau Express)

Chapleau held its eleventh winter carnival in 1962 and paid tribute to two of the community's most popular citizens. --- Mrs. A.W. 'Hockey' Moore and Layton Goodwin.
For the first time in Chapleau carnival history a "Queen Mother" was crowned and selected for the honour was Mrs. Moore who was known throughout the community for her continuous and untiring efforts to raise funds for hockey teams and the Chapleau Memorial Community Arena.

Layton Goodwin (courtesy Dr Bill Pellow)

The carnival program said that Mrs. Moore "has been an ardent and zealous supporter of the Huskies hockey team, and no doubt, in the fullness of time, will help obtain the reality of having artificial ice in our arena."
In 1965, artificial ice was installed in large measure through the efforts of Mrs. Moore. After the memorial arena was opened Mrs. Moore set out to ensure that one day, artificial ice was installed. She raised over $12,000 herself for the project, a huge sum in those years.
It should be noted that over the years Mrs. Moore supported other hockey teams including her beloved Trappers, and in 1958, for example, Doug Sleivert, president of the Chapleau High School Hockey Club wrote her a lettter of thanks on her assistance with a bingo held by the team.
In 1978, the township council, named the arena portion of the Chapleau Recreation Centre, the Mrs. A.W. Moore Arena in her honour. She was present for the occasion.
Layton Goodwin, the Carnival King, was also no stranger to Chapleau citizens and a popular choice as he had been involved in community activities for many years. Most recently he had been the manager of the memorial arena where he was very well liked with his special interest in the "young fry."
Born in Nova Scotia, Mr. Goodwin arrived in Chapleau in the Spring of 1912 at the age of 22, and took up a position as a telegrapher with the Canadian Pacific Railway.
In 1956, after retiring from the CPR, Mr. Goodwin joined the Chapleau Rotary Club and being fond of children and deeply concerned especially for those who were habdicapped, he took charge of the club's program to provide them with assistance.
Mr. Goodwin also served as master of the Masonic Lodge in Chapleau in 1938.
He said that he was proud of Chapleau and never so happy as when he was making himself a useful citizen of the community.
Jack Sawyer, who had moved to Chapleaun in 1952, and had been a driving force in establishing the Chapleau Mercantile Hockey League in the Fifties was the chairman of the 1962 winter carnival. Jack had also helped establish the Chapleau Juvenile Hockey Club that won the North Shore championship in 1959-60. He also served as secretary of the Pony Baseball League in 1962. The vice chair of the committee was Henry Therriault who was well known for his commitment to Chapleau and was most active in sports and Branch Number 5 of the Royal Canadian Legion.
Jim Lane, who was prominent as a Master of Ceremonies at many Chapleau events was once again in that role at the 1962 carnival.
Thumbing through the carnival program is a nostalgic trip back in Chapleau's history and seeing who was involved. For years J.M.Shoup, the long time principal of Chapleau Public School was in charge of races at both winter and summer events. At the 1962 carnival Mr. Shoup was in charge of the carnival queen contest along with Ross Perrigard and Hank McEachren, and dances, while Foy Wright, his successor as public school principal was looking after the skating races.
Hockey, of course, from the Huskies playing for the Sonny Bignucolo Memorial Trophy to minor hockey teams and and all girls game were on the agenda as well as a special feature -- the Chapleau Knights of Columbus doing "battle" with the Chapleau Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The program says "this game will no doubt supply many interesting sights and scenes along with a dash of some old time hockey finesse."
I had come home from attending Waterloo Lutheran University, now Wilfrid Laurier University, as a "neutral referee" for the Sonny Bignucolo Trophy games and from the mothballs of memory I remember the KC - Odd Fellows game and being so impressed at how good some of the "oldtimers" were. I have no memory, which is perhaps just as well, as to who won the game.
As I was working on this article I noted that my good friend Ken Schroeder was in charge of ski races so I contacted him to get his memories. He recalled that Ross, Frank and Karen Broomhead as well as Sonny Larush were the big winners, but Ken also received a trophy and he wasn't sure why, although he still has it.
Out of town visitors were also a big part of the winter carnival scene -- and so important that a welcoming committee would be at the CPR station to greet arrivals from The Canadian and The Dominion daily and on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the Budd Car.
Parades were always a highlight of Chapleau carnivals and a highlight was a torch parade to the Bonfire Sing Song, Sleigh Rides and Mocassin Dance at the Chapleau High School grounds on Pine Street. Dancing was free but a sleigh ride would cost you 25 cents.
In 1962, Chapleau phone calls were still handled by the telephone operator and here are some of the numbers you may have called: Jim Hong at the Redwood, 1; Tee Chambers, 38; Len's Taxi, 149;Au Coq D'or restaurant, 19; Dick Hoath, 27; Angelo's Variety Store, 187 and Sportsman Hotel, 356.
D.J. "Jim" Broomhead was reeve of Chapleau and council members were Marcel Bourgeault, Fred A. "Nick" Card, F.B. "Casey" Nowakawski and W.D. Collings.
Now, here is a challenge and I hope someone will email me with the name of the winner of the Carnival Queen contest in 1962. Despite best efforts, unable to come up with the name of the winner and a photo. The contestants were Shirley Donivan sponsored by Chapleau and District Lumber Companies; Barbara Gervais, sponsored by Chapleau High School; Anita Laferriere sponsored by Stedmans and Roseanne Wright, sponsored by Smith and Chapple Ltd. My email is mj.morris@live.ca